Derelict Welsh island fortress now worth £3m after epic restoration

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A former software company owner has transformed a derelict 19th-century fortress on a Welsh island into a luxury retreat now worth £3 million. Mike Conner bought Thorne Island near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire for £555,000 in 2017 and is now selling after an extraordinary five-year restoration project.

The 52-year-old admitted he had no idea what he was taking on when he decided to restore the abandoned Napoleonic fort. "Many have described it as a midlife crisis," he said. "I really didn't know what I was getting myself into."

Fortress with extreme challenges

The Grade II-listed fort was originally built in the 1850s to protect Milford Haven from French naval attacks before being converted into a hotel in 1947. When Conner purchased it, the island had been derelict for 17 years with no running water or electricity.

The first challenge proved monumental. Installing a single flushable toilet required cutting through 16 feet of rock to install a biodigester pump, costing £200,000 alone.

Five-year island transformation

The restoration took nearly five years to complete, with teams of workers living on the island for weeks at a time without showers. Equipment and supplies often had to be flown in by helicopter due to the remote location.

"It was tough living," Conner said, describing how workers relied on the sea to wash. Despite the extreme challenges, the results are striking.

Modern luxury meets history

Today, the fortress boasts 40 bedrooms, four en-suite bathrooms, and its own private nightclub across almost 2.5 acres. The Independent reports the property features complete renewable energy infrastructure including solar panels, 100kwh battery storage, air source heat pumps, and a 250,000-litre rainwater harvest system.

For his 50th birthday, Conner staged a festival complete with a tightrope walker performing across the courtyard. The venue can host up to 800 people for large-scale events.

Commercial potential and legacy

"It almost feels like a tribute to the Victorians' hard work," Conner said. "They built something bomb-proof, and I was just adding the last layer." He believes the site has huge potential as an exclusive retreat, tourist attraction, or event venue.

"It could host about 800 people," he said. "It would be great for Wales if it generated revenue and created jobs."

But for Conner, the island offered something beyond investment returns. "Life there is off-grid, in real time. People put their phones away. That's what makes Thorne special, people are present."

As he prepares to hand over the keys, Conner hopes the new owner will cherish the fortress as much as he has. "It's a blank canvas," he said. "But if there are any events there, I'd crawl over broken glass to get back."

Sources used: "Express", "Independent", "Strutt and Parker" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.

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